Asia
PAGCOR revives nationwide photography contest with over P1.6 million in cash prizes
After six years of hiatus, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is reviving its nationwide photography contest for amateur and professional photographers – but this time, with bigger prizes at stake.
With the theme, “Sa’n Tayo Next?”, the PAGCOR Photography Contest 2023 aims to highlight the unadulterated, yet equally beautiful places in the Philippines with tourism potential.
The photography contest will formally commence on February 15, 2023.
PAGCOR’s Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Carmelita Valdez said the state-run gaming agency will once again give both newbies and seasoned lensmen a chance to showcase the beauty of the Philippines and win generous cash prizes.
“We will be giving away a total of P1.6 million in cash prizes to the winners and grand finalists, so hopefully we can encourage participants from our previous photography competitions as well as aspiring ones who are searching for a medium to show the images captured by their cameras and latest mobile devices. Also, this event hopes to pay homage to the talent of Filipino lensmen while inspiring more local and foreign tourists to explore some of the underrated destinations in the Philippines,” she said.
Valdez explained that the competition’s theme, ‘Sa’n Tayo Next?’ is the common question that tourists and travelers would ask each other after having an amazing experience in a place they just visited.
“The excitement of travel inspires them to immediately begin planning for the next trip. We hope that this photo contest will help boost our tourism sector that is now recovering from the ill-effects of the pandemic,” she added.
PAGCOR’s Photography Contest 2023 will have two categories – Conventional Category (includes photos taken using all types of traditional or conventional cameras like Single Lens Reflex or Digital SLR, compact cameras and the like) and Mobile Category (photos taken using apps in all types of mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, drone-mounted cameras and action cameras).
Deadline for submission of entries will be on July 31, 2023. Participants who want to join the contest must be 18 years old and above. They may submit up to two entries under one category or one entry for each category.
There will be 12 grand winners for the conventional category who will each receive P80,000, while the 12 grand winners for the mobile category will take home P35,000 each.
The 16 non-winning grand finalists will also get consolation prizes (P25,000 for the conventional while P10,000 for the mobile category). A special cash prize of P10,000 will also be awarded to the “Most Liked Photo” in each category.
This is the 5th time that the agency will be holding its nationwide photography contest. PAGCOR began holding its photo contest in 2013.
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Asia
Uzbekistan Introduces Penalties for Illegal Gambling Operations

Uzbekistan has introduced strict penalties for illegal gambling operations as the country prepares to launch its regulated betting market on October 9, 2025.
The new penalties target both domestic and foreign operators offering gambling services without a license. The new rules authorise fines indexed to the Uzbek Base Calculation Unit (BRV), a fiscal benchmark used for administrative penalties.
Foreign firms face fines of up to 25,000 Base Calculation Units, around US$882,000. Authorities can also seize illegal earnings, block access to banking and internet services, and ban repeat offenders from the Uzbek financial system. Unauthorised physical casinos, betting shops and mobile terminals will face the same sanctions.
Violations of anti-money laundering rules or personal data misuse carry fines of 15,000 BRV (about US$529,200), and unlicensed deposit-taking could result in penalties of up to US$352,900.
The changes were drafted by the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), which is overseeing the rollout of Uzbekistan’s new gambling law. NAPP will act as the interim regulator until a permanent authority is established.
Licensed operators must meet strict financial requirements. Online gambling firms need authorised capital of $4.57 million and a $2.05 million reserve fund. Lottery providers must show at least $1.64 million in capital and $1.11 million in reserves.
“This is not a pay-to-play regime. It’s a compliance-first market that will reward transparency and capital discipline,” NAPP has clarified in communications with potential applicants.
Gambling has been banned in Uzbekistan since 2007, except for limited state-run lotteries. The new system marks a shift from prohibition to strict regulation. A centralised system, the Unified State Register of Bets and Players (USRBP), will track all wagers and enforce ID checks and monthly betting limits.
Sanctions will be issued by NAPP’s director after internal review. Offending companies will have 15 days to appeal through NAPP or the courts. Half of all fines will go to the state budget; the rest will fund regulatory operations. Paying fines does not shield companies from further legal action.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the new framework in 2024, requiring that gambling revenue be used to fund national sports programmes. Licensing guidelines will be released soon, with applications opening before the October launch.
The post Uzbekistan Introduces Penalties for Illegal Gambling Operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
NODWIN Gaming Partners with Sony LIV for Streaming Rights of Esports World Cup 2025

NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading esports and gaming company, has announced that Sony LIV has acquired the Hindi and English language media rights for select matches of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, further amplifying the tournament’s reach and representation across India.
As part of the partnership, Sony LIV will stream select matches from the Esports World Cup in India, bringing the action to millions of fans in languages they resonate with. The Hindi-language broadcast will be available exclusively on the Sony LIV app and official website.
In addition, Sony LIV will also stream the weekly shows, behind-the-scenes features and player interactions spotlighting EWC athletes and teams, curated for both core and casual esports audiences. This collaboration follows NODWIN Gaming’s recent partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights and regional distribution across South Asia.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said: “Our goal is to bring the Esports World Cup to as many passionate fans across South Asia as possible, and this partnership with Sony LIV is a major step in that direction. It combines Sony LIV’s incredible reach with NODWIN’s focus on building localized, fan-first esports experiences. With both Hindi and premium English content, we are creating a viewing experience that feels personal, immersive, and truly regional.”
With the addition of Sony LIV as the exclusive Hindi broadcast partner and NODWIN Gaming as the strategic regional media and marketing partner, the EWC is poised to reach unprecedented heights in South Asia. This aligns with the mission of making esports more inclusive, accessible and locally relevant.
With top-tier Indian talent competing across multiple titles, the Esports World Cup 2025 presents a unique opportunity to showcase India’s growing presence in global esports and to unite audiences around a shared national dream.
The post NODWIN Gaming Partners with Sony LIV for Streaming Rights of Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
SEGA SAMMY CREATION Launches “Prosperity Peaks™” in Macau

SEGA SAMMY CREATION INC. proudly announces the first installation of Prosperity Peaks™, the latest addition to their successful Dice series, now live on casino floors in Macau. Building on the proven success of its earlier Dice games, this new title continues the legacy with powerful features and a design tailored for Asian players.
The Asian themed Prosperity Peaks™ retains the fan-favorite Dice Wild and Wild Reels features that have defined the series, while introducing an enhanced Jackpot Bonus that delivers more frequent and rewarding win opportunities. Players will experience the thrill of hitting Jackpots more often, adding extra excitement to every spin.
The company stated today that “The Prosperity Peaks™ Link game is designed uniquely for Asia and it’s highly anticipated when we first showcased in recent gaming shows. We deliberately brings all the elements fun and excitement to promote better entertainment on the gaming floor altogether.”
The initial launch in Macau is just the beginning. Prosperity Peaks™ will also be coming soon to additional properties throughout Macau and extended to other key markets.
The post SEGA SAMMY CREATION Launches “Prosperity Peaks™” in Macau appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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